Chapter Nine – Praying for time

Hermione had been so absorbed in her reading, that she didn't have any idea of the time, which had passed. The room she was in had no windows, as it was very far underground, however it was constantly light, and this made it hard to know what time it actually was.

She had almost finished Merlin's journal. She had learned so much about the time he lived in. It also gave her a lot to think about. Merlin had explained about some of the obvious things, but as Hermione thought more about, she thought that just how she could use these easy ideas to maybe come up with ways to defeat Voldemort. A passage that Hermione had copied out was such a fundamental idea that she was shocked she hadn't thought about it before.

Today Arthur asked me, why there was evil in the world. Because I am his trusted advisor, I had to answer, it took me a few moments before I could answer and then it came to me with the speed of Zeus' lightening bolt. The answer I gave to my trusted friend was that the world we live in needs balance. The world wouldn't be balanced if we didn't have evil. There are also many worlds separate from ours, which balance ours. If our world were completely good then the other world would be completely evil.

Hermione had felt that, that passage was the answer, she didn't know how, or why, but it was. She had asked her new friend if he wouldn't disturb her. When she came to the end of the journal, she used the instrument to gently close it.

She was very tired, but brushed it aside, this was a breakthrough, and she convinced herself that she had been tired all day so naturally she should be tired now.

She walked over to William, who was the owner of the library.

'William, I've finished, it was long but really interesting, you can put the wards back on. I'm just going to sit down here so I can do some thinking, I think I got the answers that I needed but I've just got to understand them. Is that alright?'

'Of course you can stay Hermione, would like a drink?'

'Oh thank you.' Hermione replied. The air was like a drug it had relaxed her completely. She had forgotten everything, except everything in the room.

She made herself comfortable on a couch and read the passage she had written hundreds of times. –There are also many worlds, which balance ours–. She read that line more than the others.

Hermione had already finished her drink, and several others. She had come up with an idea; she didn't have a clue whether it would work. She prayed several times, hopes that the light side had just gained the upper hand.

She had stayed with William. They talked about many things and she found out much about his life.

'I was born in England; I've inherited this library from my parents. It's been in the family for hundreds of years.'

'Did you want to work here?' Hermione asked, though she wondered why anybody wouldn't want to.

'Oh yes, I love books, I always have. I must have read all these volumes hundreds of times. I stay down here all my life, I have a couple of house elves which get me my food, and help me look after this place.'

'Have you got anyone to look after it, in case something happens to you?' Hermione asked, wondering if this interesting man had any children.

'Hopefully, I have a son, but he's gone into the career of Herbology. He's especially interested in how they can be used for medicinal uses. However I also have a grandson, he should be about your age. He's very interested in books. I think that, that gene must have skipped a generation. I've had many talks with him, trying to explain what to do with the books, and how to look after them. He's just out of school, you might be able to meet him actually he comes for meetings in the mornings.'

Something seemed to snap in Hermione's mind, the air seemed slightly clearer for a few moments and she realised what he had said. She might be able to meet him, but he came for meetings in the mornings. What time did that make it now? Hermione thought.

'William, excuse me what time is?'

'Its nine, why?' William asked.

Hermione staggered up clutching her head, the room was spinning. This wasn't supposed to happen she had totally lost track of time. Then she became even more confused. If it were nine at night then why would she be seeing his grandson?

She voiced her question as she slowly steadier her head. William chuckled,

'No, my dear Hermione, it's nine in the morning. You probably don't feel very tired, it's because this air is a special mixture of spells…'

But Hermione blocked him out, with the shock of the fact she had been here for almost 24 hours, and the fact she hadn't eaten anything, and the air making her feel even more light headed, she collapsed onto the floor, her head making a hard connection with the wooden floor.

Harry was out of his mind with worry, they were currently at the burrow, and none of them had slept, partly because the house was crawling with aurors, but also because Harry had been worrying himself with what Hermione could be going through. He felt it was his fault, he knew that it was more dangerous, now, especially now, and what did he go and do, leave Hermione on her own.

Harry and Ron had walked back to the leaky cauldron half an hour late, to find that Molly was out of her mind. But soon Harry's mind was in the similar state as Molly's when Hermione hadn't turned up. They all grew concerned that after several hours she still hadn't returned.

They soon called the aurors, and many were out searching for her. Half the squad had to hold Harry down to prevent him looking for her.

Currently they were all sitting around the table, nursing cups of coffee, which was keeping them awake. Waiting for news was something Harry and Ron had always hate.

Suddenly at 9.30 one of the aurors ran into the kitchen,

'We found her,' Harry and Ron jumped up from their seats.

'What happened? Where is she? Is she all right?' Fell out of Harry's mouth.

'She's at St. Mungos, we found her while some of our aurors where searching around Diagon alley, a boy was carrying Hermione. We've got him in for questioning. Hermione's still unconscious, but we're hoping she'll wake up soon. We can take you there if you like?'

'Yes, take me to Hermione.' Harry said gripping the auror's arm, and grabbing Ron, so he could come along.

When they apparated into St. Mungos, Harry's body shook from dread. He and Ron ran up to the reception, and patiently waited for the people in front of them to receive the information they needed.

'Hermione Granger?' Harry said.

'Sixth floor, room 614' the blonde witch replied. Harry and Ron moved away, and towards the lift.

They walked in, and pressed the sixth floor button several times, to try to hurry it up.

'I thought that there was only five floors.' Harry asked,

'Yeah there was, but there have been so many injuries that they have made another floor, for people that they don't know what's wrong with, or if they don't come under any of the other possible categories.' Ron replied looking at the pointer, showing which level, they currently were at.

When the lift reached the sixth floor, after stops at almost all the other floors, Harry and Ron leapt out of the lift and raced down the corridor. 'Slow down,' and 'No running in the corridors.' Was shouted at them, but the only time they stopped was when they reached room 614. They knocked and walked in.

Hermione was lying in the bed, her skin pale. She had breathing instruments surrounding her and intravenous lines in several of her veins. A nurse was hovering over her, checking her. She looked up when Harry and Ron ran in.

'Oh you two are here now, she should be waking up soon, we've given her some reviving potions, and so within a few minutes she should be awake.' With that the mediwitch, left the room.

Harry and Ron pulled chairs, up and sat next to her bed, both taking one of her hands. Harry noticed how cold her hand was, as he smoothed her skin. He found the cannular inserted in her hand got in the way of his strokes. He noticed the large gash on her head, and tightened his hands; the person who did this would not get away with it. Not while Harry was alive.

Suddenly she moved her hands, she put them on her head, and was moving about, muttering incoherent words.

Harry and Ron moved closer to try to hear what she was saying.

'Harry…Ron…leaky Cauldron…late…they'll be worried…' then suddenly her eyes flew open to see Harry and Ron in her face.

With her exhaustion, and lack of food, seeing Harry's face so near hers, relaxed her so quickly she was unable to hold herself together, and found herself crying with relief,

'Harry' she choked out, before he pulled her to him. She had her head in his chest and she never felt so protected. To feel his arms around her frail body she shivered from the lack of touch for what now felt so long. As Hermione cried her soul out at seeing Harry, Harry was looking at Ron. He lifted his hand and with a serious expression made a movement across his neck.

Harry was going to kill the person that had done this to Hermione. He didn't have a chance.

Suddenly Hermione stilled, her mind was reeling, at what had happened, and she remembered the information she had gained. She violently pulled away from Harry, and pushed her way past him, she had ripped the cannulars from her hands; but found Harry had pulled her back. He looked concerned at the sudden change in Hermione.

'Harry I have to Dumbledore, its important.' She tried to get past him, but Ron had joined Harry at his side.

'Please. Let me past.' Hermione pleaded, the sooner she could do this, the sooner Harry wouldn't have to worry about Voldemort. That had been what Hermione's goal since she had known about Harry, and having him as her friend. She was desperate to help him that he always came before her.

Hermione was starting to panic at what to do. Harry and Ron immediately noticed Hermione starting to become unnerved. Then suddenly she reached into her coat that she was still wearing and pulled out her wand.